There is more to Zambian mining than copper

There is more than copper to Zambian mining, writes Dr Nicolaas C Steenkamp.

Zambia is best known for the mining of copper and associated minerals from the Zambian Copperbelt. The country produced 763 287 metric tons of copper in 2022, which accounts for approximately 70% of the country’s income. Zambia, however, is host to a range of other minerals, metals and gemstones.

The country boasts an up-to-date mining cadastre platform, supporting other actions by the Zambian government to further increase interest in mineral exploration and mine development. Various reforms have taken place in the mining legislation sphere following the end of nationalisation of all natural resources and the country offers a well-established mining industrial and manufacturing sector, with available skilled labour.

Zambia produces in the order of 20% of the world’s emeralds, being the second-largest producer after Colombia. The emeralds produced in Zambia have a blueish-green colour that appears a little darker than other gems produced in other regions and is the result of a mix of chromium and vanadium. These gems in general also have less inclusions. The largest emerald mine in the country, Kagem, is located in the southern portion of the Copperbelt region and is operated by Gemfields. It is 75%-owned by Gemfields and 25% owned by the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the mine comprises three open pits. The largest emerald discovered to date –in 2021 –was a 7 525carat (1,505g) gemstone recovered from the Kagem operations.

Amethyst is a semi-precious gemstone which is mainly mined by producer Kariba Minerals’ Mapatizya mine, which has been in operation in the Zimba district region for more than 50 years, producing more than 90% of the amethyst originating from Zambia. Other semi-precious stones are also produced on a smaller scale and include: aquamarines, garnets, tourmalines, rose quartz, agate, amazonite and coloured quartz. The royalty on gemstones in Zambia is currently 3%.

Manganese with grades between 40% to 58% occurs in the Luapula Province but have not been developed on a large scale. There are significant small-scale mining operations, mostly illegal, exploiting the manganese deposits. One limitation on setting up operations here is the lack of access to electricity and the low voltage of the power supplied to the area. As a result, the raw ore is transported for processing in Serenje District in the Central Province. There have been reports of a manganese smelter to be constructed by a Chinese company in the Kapiri Mposhi district.

Occurrences of various other deposits have been noted with iron ore found near Mumbwa and a coal deposit derived from the Maamba coal mine. This mine supports the first coal power plant in Zambia which was commissioned in 2016/17 to meet the electricity shortfall – the country was previously completely reliant on hydroelectrical generation.

The gold mining sector is underdeveloped, with the Zambia Gold Company Limited (ZGCL) being established to develop the sector and to procure ASM-mined gold. There are twenty gold mines operating, with a further 300 known occurrences. The country has built 10 milling plants to process gold in a drive to formalise artisanal and small-scale miners.

Uranium was discovered in 2008 and a number of exploration projects have been undertaken over the last decade. Uranium is extracted at the Lumwana Mine in Northwestern Province as a by-product of its copper mining operations. The Mutanga Uranium Project consists of five main deposits: Mutanga, Dibwe, Dibwe East, Njame, and Gwabe, undertaken by GoviEx Uranium.

The country produces much of its domestic industrial minerals for the construction and mining sectors, with 14 cement manufacturing companies, clustered in Lusaka and Ndola. There are also number of small steel processing operations, but most iron and steel are imported.

As Zambia looks to diversify from copper, it is anticipated that more attractive options will be put in place to encourage exploration and development of mines. Formalisation of the ASM sector will further improve the country’s status and improve the lives of its citizens.

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